Recho’s surgery was successful, but one day after surgery, she developed hypocalcemia. She is still receiving treatment and medical observation, but her symptoms are improving and she is on the road to recovery.

She says, “I was really worried about what would happen during the surgery but God is great.”

Recho's surgery was successful, but one day after surgery, she developed hypocalcemia. She is still receiving treatment and medical observat...

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June 13, 2017

Recho is a 39-year-old farmer from Kenya who plants maize and beans. She lives with her husband and four children.

In 2000, Recho started to experience heart palpitations and insomnia. She decided to visit the hospital where the doctors presumed that the symptoms were due to her pregnancy. She was given some medication and it got better. Later that year, however, Recho noted a mass in her neck that prompted her to return to the hospital. There, she was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid and surgery was recommended.

Seeking treatment through our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Recho is scheduled to undergo thyroid removal surgery on June 20. Although she is able to contribute $52 to the cost of her treatment, she is still in need of $641 to cover the rest of the expenses.

“I never experienced parental love and care in my life, my mother died when I was a few months old and my father left us with my grandmother for another family. I love my children and I don’t want them to experience the same,” says Recho.

Recho is a 39-year-old farmer from Kenya who plants maize and beans. She lives with her husband and four children.
In 2000, Recho starte...

Recho received treatment at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients in need of a thyroidectomy often present with a small thyroid growth (nodule or cyst), a thyroid gland that is so overactive it is dangerous (thyrotoxicosis), cancer of the thyroid, noncancerous (benign) tumors of the thyroid that are causing symptoms, or thyroid swelling (nontoxic goiter) that makes it hard to breathe or swallow.
Patients in need of thyroid surgery often present with nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The thyroid gland is an organ located in the front of your neck. It releases hormones that control your metabolism (the way your body uses energy), breathing, heart rate, nervous system, weight, body temperature, and many other functions in the body. When the thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism), the body’s processes speed up and you may experience nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Thyroid disorders are relatively common in the African continent. Iodine deficiency, although still the commonly documented cause of thyroid disorders in Africa, is not as rampant as it used to be. There is a compelling need to set up thyroid disorder registries in order to determine not only the scope of the burden of these disorders, but also to document changing trends, if any, especially given the background of widespread iodization programs.
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its incidence has continuously increased in the last three decades all over the world. This trend is present on every continent except Africa, where detection is possibly insufficient.

Process

Impact on patient's life

Risks and side-effects

Accessibility

Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Thyroid surgery takes approximately three to eight hours depending on the patient. Patients will stay in the hospital for a maximum of six to eight weeks or as needed for recovery. A patient will usually have one follow-up appointment in six weeks.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

In case of thyroid cancer, the surgery is the patient’s best chance of preventing the spread of cancer and saving the patient’s life. In cases of hyperthyroidism, the treatment helps stabilize the hormones that regulate metabolism and effectively treat some of the patient's symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, anxiety etc.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Thyroid surgery is often 90% curative should diagnosis be done early. For benign tumors and hyperthyroidism, the surgery is more than 90% curative. The surgery comes with few risks.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

The hospital is a mission hospital in a remote area and patients may come from far away to access treatment.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

In Kenya, surgery is the only treatment offered for thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. This is because radiotherapy and medication alternatives are not easily accessible. Also, the cost of treating with radiotherapy and medication is higher than that of surgery.